Little-known state law could put Texas beach home owners in a bind

[Alicia Leonard]

"The reason: a 1959 law known as the Texas Open Beaches Act. Under the law, the strip of beach between the average high-tide line and the average low-tide line is considered public property, and it is illegal to build anything there.
Over the years, the state has repeatedly invoked the law to seize houses in cases where a storm eroded a beach so badly that a home was suddenly sitting on public property. The aftermath of Ike could see the biggest such use of the law in Texas history."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26780578/

I can't even begin to understand what some of these people are going through. Are there any laws in Fl. like this?

 

[Miss Kitty]

I am not sure about "little known"...I knew about that law.

 

[greenroomsurfer]

"The reason: a 1959 law known as the Texas Open Beaches Act. Under the law, the strip of beach between the average high-tide line and the average low-tide line is considered public property, and it is illegal to build anything there.
Over the years, the state has repeatedly invoked the law to seize houses in cases where a storm eroded a beach so badly that a home was suddenly sitting on public property. The aftermath of Ike could see the biggest such use of the law in Texas history."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26780578/

I can't even begin to understand what some of these people are going through.Are there any laws in Fl. like this?

Are ya telling me we have been out smarted by Texans? Awesome law, wish Florida would adapt this one.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Are ya telling me we have been out smarted by Texans? Awesome law, wish Florida would adapt this one.

Everytime. ;-) I agree...awesome law.

 

[DD]

I knew about this too. I remember something about it when Alicia hit Galveston in '83. Seems like there were some homeowners that couldn't rebuild.

 

[Bobby J]

I am pretty sure if your home is south of the CCL and you get whacked you are pretty much doomed if you can not build on the same footprint. This happened to a few homes locally. The folks needed to tear down their home but would not be allowed to rebuild so my father had plans drawn up on the current foot print. Many homes in Blue Mountain are in this category. If we get hit and the beach area was eroded they would not be able to rebuild. BTW, If=When.

 

[Cheering472]

I am not sure about "little known"...I knew about that law.

Well you do sleep with a lawyer.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Well you do sleep with a lawyer.

....^5! I doubt he knows about that law. I'll tell him tonight! He is never too old to learn.

 

[Cheering472]

....^5! I doubt he knows about that law. I'll tell him tonight! He is never too old to learn.

Professor Kitty, I like it!

 

[Miss Critter]

Seems like there should be a disclosure of some sort warning buyers that their valuable property could literally disappear. I know beachfront buyers weigh the risk of losing their house in a storm, but I would guess that most don't realize they could lose their land as well, the basis of the value.